Original Articles

  • CalHHS Secretary Extends Mask Mandate to Mid-February

    January 7, 2022

    Mark Ghaly, M.D., MPH, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) secretary, has extended California’s indoor mask mandate by another full month. The masking requirement intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic now runs through February 15. While citing a recent surge in the state’s positivity rate to over 21 percent, Ghaly also noted data on […]

  • Fed-OSHA seeks suggestions for strengthening VPP

    June 27, 2017

    Fed-OSHA is holding a stakeholder meeting July 17, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. The agency’s aim is to “reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth.” Fed-OSHA is […]

Curated Content Articles of Interest from Around the Web

    Another View of OSHA’s GDC Proposal

     

    General Duty Clause Concern Much Ado About Nothing?

    • This July, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed modifications to its General Duty Clause to limit its application in inherently risky operations.
    • The response to this proposal has been strongly negative, reflecting an “inherent misunderstanding” of the proposal, a law firm asserts.
    • The proposal emphasizes that the agency will focus on employers’ “reasonable efforts” to reduce risks.
    • The GDC reform would not affect enforcement in the traditional four-element test for general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture.
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    Home Builders call for heat standard to consider construction

    • The National Association of Home Builders is calling on Fed-OSHA to use a “flexible, performance-based” alternative to its heat illness prevention proposal.
    • The association has provided public testimony urging OSHA to omit “impracticable requirements” that would affect residential construction.
    • The currently proposed requirements are not sufficiently tailored to heat hazard mitigation, the association argues.
    • NAHB wants the agency to ensure that any eventual standard gives employers the flexibility to continue what it says are successful awareness and training programs.
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    Postal Worker Found Dead in Michigan Mail Handling Machine

    • A Detroit, Michigan-area postal worker was found dead after becoming stuck in a mail-handling machine.
    • The employee, in his 30s, was found after being trapped for up to eight hours at the Network Distribution Center in Allen Park.
    • Firefighters discovered the body after his fiancé turned up at the workplace when he hadn’t returned home from his shift.
    • An investigation is underway to determine whether safety protocols were followed, and if there were mechanical failures in the machine.
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